Apparatus for atomizing liquids



April 28, 1953 K. MICHELSEN 2,636,778

APPARATUS FOR ATONIZING LIQUIDS Filed Aug. 15, 1949 2 Sl-IEETS-Sl-IEET l IN VEN TOR.

April 1953 K. MICHELSEN 2,636,778

APPARATUS FOR ATOMIZING LIQUIDS Filed Aug. 15. 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET2 INVENTOR. W WW .tlonary means. elements are required for the formation of the Patented Apr. 28, 1953 ABPARATU'S FOR ATQMIZING LIQUIDS Karl Michelson, Copenhagen, Denmark Application August 13, 1949, Serial No. 110,145 In Denmark August 2'7, 1348 This invention relates to Hmcthodsand appa- :ratus tor atomizing liquids, and more particularly to .atomizing ofiucl oil in oil burners. While the invention will be described with a special -view to this application, it will be understood that it is not confined thereto but may also applicdfor atomizing other liquids such as milk,

, disini cting liquids, etc.

It is an, object of the invention to provide simple and cflicient means for providing complete atomizing without using high pressures, neither forv the liquid to be atomized nor for the atomizing agent which generally consists of an air or steam jet. Thus, when applying the invention to atomizing liquid fuel, it will be possible to use an oil pressure of about 350 mm. Water column and an air pressure of approximately 500 mm. water column. Consequently, the oil pressure may in practice be produced by means of gravity only, whereas the air pressure may be produced by mean of a small and cheap blower, thereby providing not only for substantialeconomy in investment, but also for an increased reliability of the apparatus.

It is another object of the invention to provide means whereby the apparatus used for atomizing liquids is cheap and simple and has a high reliability of operation.

According to the invention a method of atomizing a liquid comprises the steps of imparting to the'liquid to be atomized a rotational movc- .ment, of directing the rotating liquid to a dis- According to the invention an apparatus for? atomlzing the liquid comprises means for imparting a rotational movement to the liquid, a distribution surface having an inlet end and outer edge, means for directing the liquid to the inlet of said distribution surface and means for directing the jet of an atomizing agent against theliquld on the distribution surface adjacent the outer edge. Preferably the distribution surface has a circular cross section increasing from the inlet end to the outer edge.

The formation of the film of liquid is due to the characteristic shape of the distribution surface which remains stationary and to the fact that. a rotational movement is imparted to the liquid before it reaches said surface, the said rotatlonal movement being likewise created by sta- Thus no rotating mechanical film.

According to a preferred embodiment of my 2 Claims. (01. 299-) invention an apparatus for .atomizins liquids comprises an outer tube. an inner tube axially disposed within the outertube so as to .iorm a flow channel of annular cross section for an atomizing agent, a chamber axially disposed within the inner tube and having a smooth circular inner wall having a portion flaring outward towards one end of the inner tube, and means for injecting tangentially a liquid into the chamber. Preferably the inner tube has a smooth outwardly flaring inner wall merg n with the outward end of, the flaring portion of the wall of the chamber and leading to the end of the inner tube.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention I provide a chamber having a smooth cylindrical wall, means for. injecting tangentially a liquid into the chamber, an extension of the chamber having a smooth wall of circular cross section flaring outwardly fromthe cylindrical wall of the chamber whereby the liquid is expanded as a film on the inner walls of the chamber and the extensio nd means for directing the atomizing agent against the film adjacent tothc outer edge or the flaring wall. Preferably a tube is axially disposed to the chamber and the extension and has an outwardly flaring inner wall merging into the outer portion of the flaring wall of the extension.

In a preferred embodiment a pipe surrounds the tube andprojccts slightly beyond its end and a flow channel for an atomizing a ent. is formed twe n t pip and the tube whereby the atomizing agent is directed against the film adiacent to the outward edse of the flaring wall of the tube.

The novel feature which I consider as characteristic for my invention are set forthinparticular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the followin description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a diagram showing the principle of the atomizing according to the invention by the splitting-up of the annular liquidfilm;

Fig. 2 is asectional elevation of. an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention;

Figs. 3. and i are sectional sideelevations of the external and internal parts of the apparatus, respectively; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken alon the line vs-V inFig. 2.

The principle of the inventlonis diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1. where l is a smoothly and widely flaring distribution surface having a circular cross section and forming a funnel or widely flaring distribution surface 1.

trumpet-shaped cavity or ball 3 at one end of a cylindrical body 2, the circumference Id of said surface forming a sharp edge with the cylindrical surface of the body 2. The liquid to be atomized is introduced adjacent the bottom of the distribution surface 1, and a rotational movement as indicated by arrow a is imparted to the liquid in the manner described hereinafter. Thereby, the liquid is caused to form a thin layer which expands over the surface towards the circumference Ia thereof, thereby forming an annular film ing a circular orifice 3 the outer surface of which i constitutes the external portion of the A body 5 is disposed axially within the cap 2 and has a chamber 0, the uppermost inner surface I" of which forms the continuation of the distribution surface. The lower portion of the chamber in the body 5 is cylindrical and serves as a chamber of rotation 6, the liquid being injected into said chamber through tangentially disposed openings i in the walls of the body 5. The cap 2 is screwed upon an inlet pipe 8 for the liquid by means of an internal threading A corresponding to an external threading do; on said pipe.

As shown in Fig. 5, the body 5 has a square cross section and is provided with an annular flange 5d at one end thereof, said flange fitting into the cap 2 so as to abut the internal annual face 2a thereof, thus providing for a smooth transition between the surface portions I and i" forming the distribution surface I. The square portion of the body 5 fits into the internal diameter of the pipe 8, thereby providing for the formation of passageways II having a segmentshaped cross section for leading the liquid flow from the pipe 8 to the inlet openings 7.

As shown in Fig. 2, the inlet pipe 8 and the inner tube 2 may be disposed co-axially with an outer tube 9 so as to form an annular flow-channel l0 for the atomizing medium or fluid therebetween.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may

also find a useful application in other types of methods and apparatus for atomizing liquids differing from the type described above.

While I have illustrated and described the invention as embodied in a method and apparatus for atomizing liquids, I do not intend to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of my inven tion.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of my invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended 4 to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an apparatus for atomizing a liquid, in combination, an outer tube; an inner tube having a cylindrical outer surface coaxially arranged within said outer tube, said outer surface of said inner tube forming with said inner surface of said outer tube an annular channel for an atomizing fiuid passing therethrough in axial direction of said tubes, said inner tube having a smooth cylindrical inner surface defining an axially extending chamber therein with a closed inner end and an open outer end, said cylindrical inner surfaceof said chamber having a face portion thereof flaring widely outward towards said open outer end of said axial chamber and forming with said cylindrical outer surface of said inner tube a sharp circular edge; and means for tangentially injecting a liquid into said axial chamber adjacent to the closed end thereof so that a liquid entering said axial chamber rotates and is spread on said flaring face portion to form a thin outwardly moving film passing over said circular edge for being atomized by said axially moving atomizing fluid in said annular chamber.

2. In an apparatus for atoinizing a liquid, in combination, an outer tube having a cylindrical inner surface; an inner tube having a cylindrical outer surface c-oa-xially arranged within said outer tube, said outer surface of said inner tube forming with said inner surface of said outer tube an annular channel for an atomizing fiuid passing therethrough in axial direction of said tubes, said inner tube having a smooth cylindrical inner surface defining an axially extending chamber therein with a closed inner end and an open outer end, said cylindrical inner surface of said chamher having a trumpet-shaped face portion thereof flaring widely outward towards said open outer end of said axial chamber and forming with said cylindrical outer surface of said inner tube a sharp circular edge, said trumpet-shaped face portion defining with said cylindrical outer surface of said inner tubean angle of substantially and means for tangentially injecting a liquid into said axial chamber adjacent to the closed end thereof so that a liquid entering said axial chamber rotates and is spread on said flaring face portion to form a thin outwardly moving film passing over said circular edge in a direction substantially normal to the movement by said axially moving atomizing fluid in said annular chamber for being atomized by the same.

KARL MICHELSEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

